System Automates Register And Cut-Off Control

Border Mail Printing in Wodonga, Victoria (Australia) has streamlined its printing process after installing a Quadtech Ribbon Control System with Multicam.

The company had also previously commissioned a Quadtech Register Guidance System with Multicam on its Goss Uniliner S Press.

Border Mail is one of Australia's most established regional newspaper and commercial printing companies, currently producing 2.4 million tabloid newspapers per week, including its flagship title The Border Mail (circulation 26,579).

With over 300 tonnes of newsprint being produced at the plant each week, the introduction of press automation was seen as a must, said Quadtech.

Damian Balkin, general manager of Border Mail Printing, commented: "Prior to the installation of Quadtech equipment, register and cut off were controlled manually.

Now this is done automatically, our printers are free to concentrate on other aspects of quality control, such as ink densities and colour." The Quadtech equipment has also made an impact on waste at Border Mail Printing, as Balkin explained: "The Multicam stays locked on to marks during web tension upsets, particularly during start-ups, splices and blanket washes.

This significantly reduces the percentage of waste copies during these periods." Maintaining quality is a top priority for any company wanting to make an impact in Australia's competitive commercial coldset printing sector, according to Balkin.

He continued: "In the current climate, it is vital to maintain quality as we need to provide the customer with the best quality product to keep existing customers and win new business.

To ensure this is the case, we have invested in the Register Guidance System and Ribbon Control System to help us maintain our edge." The Border Mail is published six days-a-week and is one of the most highly awarded regional newspapers in the Australia Pacific region, winning the Meacham Award 11 times in 29 years and PANPA's newspaper of the year from 2000 to 2003, inclusive.

The newspaper is distributed throughout a 130 kilometre radius of Albury Wodonga.

Balkin added: "We do not take our success for granted and are constantly striving to improve the material we produce.

Buying the Quadtech equipment will help us to maximise the potential of our presses and turn out the best possible product and in this respect it is very much an investment in our future.".

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